Fashion Fridays

I had this whole six part installment ready on fashion trends that I started LAST November, and then life hit.

But I really want to get back to writing Fashion Fridays because I love them so. Plus, if you’ll recall, I’m on a discretionary spending FREEZE which means I’m not buying anything. Nada. Zilch. Zipo.

So I need to live vicariously through you. Send me your fashion dilemma and let me shop for you. I’m free unlike these subscription services, and based on one of my best work buddies recent experience, I’ll be a whole lot more spot on than they are. (A series of 15 minute voxes this week describing her woes with not one but two different services!)

However, today, I actually am dusting off my own dilemma from December to report on for your Fashion Friday enjoyment.

I knew I was going on a spending freeze in January for a full quarter and I also know I had my kids school gala to attend.

I have about three gala dresses in my rotation, but I’ve worn them a number of times and they’re pretty memorable dresses so I wanted to buy a new gown but didn’t want to spend a fortune.

My best momma friend from the kids school and I started talking about what we envisioned. She wanted a neutral dress with really bright and bold accessories. (She has achieved this with a smashing navy gown from Nordstrom’s and spectacular bold heels and jewelry. Plus she’s been working out way harder than me and is going to be the belle of the ball. Love that my friends are not only gracious and smart but also have fabulous fashion insight! This is her gown. Everyone should own this dress. Just don’t wear it to our gala.)

Eliza J from Nordstrom

I digress.

I wanted a bold gown. If you haven’t noticed, I enjoy color. Pattern. Unique styles and fun accessories. I rarely do pattern on a gown (save for the above) because it’s hard to pull off if you’re not super slim, which I haven’t been in quite a while. But I like color. And sparkle.

I had a hankering for green but was willing to do blue or red too.

Then I fell in love with this gown. And found it on sale. I ordered it. The gown looked lovely on. From the front. When I turned to the side, it looked like we were expanding from a family of five to a family of six.

Forgive the primitive home photoTadashi Soji

I stewed and wondered and hemmed-and-hawed, but eventually decided to return it. I would have to lose at least 10 pounds, in my middle, which wasn’t going to happen during the month of Disney and trial.

While at Nordstrom’s, I tried on over a dozen gowns. Most I pulled, but a few the saleslady pulled for me. I liked them okay. But as my darling momma friend said as I texted her from the dressing room (seriously y’all, how did mommas shop before cell phones – your besties are always one “phone a friend” away), theotheronewasbetterthanthese.

I left Nordstrom’s empty handed.

Dillard’s had an amazing selection of evening gowns this season, a far better selection for me than Nordstrom’s (a rarity), but they never run sales.

Regardless, I marched into a dressing room with another dozen+ gowns to see what I could find.

By now, you guys know my limitations on dressing. I’m 5’10 and a size 12. I carry the bulk of my weight, now, in my middle. (Pre-kids, it was all hips and thighs.) When I look for a special event outfit, I like to feature my neck and clavicle. I have pretty skin and a long neck and I’m not remotely afraid of color.

So guess what I ended up with?

Anyone?

Black.

Hahahahaha. Life is funny.

Here’s what happened.

I narrowed it down to the below three gowns.

My friend liked the red because it had the bold color I was going for and the bow feature was a pretty and modern fashion feature. I liked it too. But. There was so much gathering in the pleats of the skirt that it made me feel thicker. This is a night out with my man and I was going for something a little sexier (not we’re-dating-sexy, buthey baby you look great!, and a red bow dress won’t get me that reaction).

I loved the Badgley Mischka full skirted metallic striped gown. Hand’s down it was my favorite. Here were the hiccups. One, it was $300. Not in my budget. Two, it was low cut and I wasn’t sure how much old cleavage you can show. Three, while my friends gave it the green light, they said I’d need to go get a fake tan because I was too pale to pull it off. Sigh.

This left the black. It definitely hit the mark on slimming. That’s the beauty of solid black, right? It had a little peplum around the waist which worked to my advantage (those can go either way). It had a cool neckline. Plus, while I had none of the appropriate undergarments in the dressing room, I knew with the right bra and Spanx as well as sparkly vintage jewels and high heels it would look good. I would feel good as well as comfortable which isn’t an expectation for gala wear.

So there you have it.

My advice when shopping for special events: be willing to releasepreconceivedideas of what you envisioned and try on a wide spectrum of gowns. You may surprise yourself. Or you may get exactly what you’re looking for. And always, always, have a buddy on text standby.

I have been (and still am) sick. So I’m just not writing. But I miss Fashion Fridays and talking what’s in and out with you girls. Lucky me got to head to the Nutcracker Market yesterday and attend my favorite event of the year: The Saks Fashion Show. Now sometimes, it’s utterly outrageous and the trends don’t translate. But this year, it was fantastic. All the trends translate. And I’m hear to do that for you today.

The Fashion Friday trends for winter 2018: white, color (talk about a crazy flip after white), animal print, pink, shimmer and metallic, floral, and jewel tones. Seriously y’all, the trends were gorgeous this year. And that’s SEVEN trends. Oh my will we have fun with that. Plus there’s something for everyone.

I’m going to kick us off with color. You’re going to have to forgive my runway photos. I had a great view of the models but the glaring lights didn’t always result in smashing photographs. But you’ll get the idea.

Here were some of the looks hot off the Saks runway:

Okay, granted a few are crazy, but I just love all the saturation. I mean check out those shoes! And that orange jacket – I am nuts about that eye popping outfit! It made such an impact when they walked out! Just as it would when you walk into the room.

I can’t afford Saks fashion (these are all straight from the stores if you have no wardrobe budget limit) so here’s a few places to grab some saturated color for yourself this winter:

Banana Republic has day glow yellow cashmere in a svelte simple crew or a big cabled oversized sweater:

I just picked up a rich cranberry faux fur vest for holiday parties at the Nutcracker Market yesterday. Here’s a Michael Kors one at Neiman’s for under $200 but you Houstonians can pick it up for a fraction of that cost if you are headed out the market this weekend.

When I blog about some of my newest designer obsessions, Dress the Population is going to be on that list. They have fabulous cocktail dresses, and pantsuits, this season in a variety of colors. I want everything they are selling. Here’s just two: red with a bow for the holidays, yes please, and I know the sparkle one is a lot, but go big or go home:

What trend appeals to you most? Stick around for shots from the rest of the fashion show. And have a great VIVID weekend!

I thought I’d provide a little Fashion Friday update on my long weekend to Pittsburgh and Niagara Falls. I sought some fashion advice and had some unexpected discoveries.

If you will recall, in my Out of the Box FF I shared that I needed: a Friday night gala dress, a Saturday evening sophisticated look for dinner on the town, and a casual Sunday look that could go from a boat at the Falls to casual eating.

Sigh.

Just the footwear issues this raised.

My goal: carry a carry on and check no luggage.

Now the gala was boots and ball gowns. And the forecast was rain. Both of these things presented opportunities for cumbersome footwear. Cowboy boots for the gala and rain boots for the weekend.

In the end, I opted for NO boots. I wore versatile flats on the plane, took strappy sandals for both the gala and Saturday dinner, and then (gasp) took comfy, waterproof, animal print sandals for everything else.

Now, I utterly failed to take pics for the bulk of the trip so you’ll have to bear with me. The only good one I got was gala night.

What did I select to WEAR though?

First up, the awards gala. One of my favorite dresses already hanging in the closet won the day. It packs well, is very forgiving, and I always feel quite lovely in it.

Next up, Saturday night’s selection.

My dear friend and neighbor came over and saw my dilemma. I’d wanted skinny pants and a fancy blouse for the dinner. But either my ankle pants were too casual or too wide. She recommended J. Crew. She said they had fabulous black pants which I should pair with the steal of a black blouse I picked up at Nordstrom’s Rack and then style the heck out of it with shimmery jewelry and heels. Black on black?, I asked skeptically. Absolutely, she instructed.

I snapped this one selfie in the hotel room to send to her, so my apologies. I’ll share the lovely view we had from the restaurant Mount Washington in Pittsburgh. I adored the black ankle pants at J. Crew and used great self control to keep from getting a pair in every color. These very same pants have already been repurposed for work. And the fabric is thick which you need if you are wearing a skinny pant and are past your skinny stage.

Finally, Sunday. The trickiest.

Long road trip from Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls. Then the world’s longest tour (I am not kidding). My goal: no shorts, even though it was warm, and no sneakers. What to do? Well, when I wandered into J. Crew on THURSDAY before my flight left Friday early to get my black pants, I discovered the loveliest sales assistant. She was gorgeous. And, as luck would have it, she was a similar size. I fell in love with their chambray button down shirt. Perfect color and fabric and cut. I couldn’t resist. What do you pair this with, I inquired while picking up an olive pair of shorts. These, she replied.

That’s right. These are elastic pants.

Oh, but wait, there’s more. They are not just elastic WAIST, they have elastic on the LEGS! I tried to swallow the little vomit that came up in my throat. But she was massively cute and they came in olive (green is my love language), so I just tried them. Ahhh. It’s why we tell the kids not to do drugs. Once you try it, it’s hard to stop. ELASTIC! And the kicker, you’ll have to probably size down a size so they’re not TOO big. Go down a size? You had me at hello.

She recommended the “half tuck” which I did and loved.

Apologies for the photo (it’s either the dressing room at J. Crew or this half one of me crumpled late in the tour). Y’all, I only took pictures of the FALLS! But I love this outfit. It felt chic for a super casual outfit and it was comfortable because, um, ELASTIC! I don’t even know. The only reason I’m trying to get away with this is because it’s J. Crew and they sort of give me a pass…So there you have it. An update. Sound off? Am I an insane person for wearing elastic? I don’t even care. Have you TRIED these pants? I might even buy another pair for my fall weekends.

Talk about a WEALTH of material for today’s Fashion Friday: Out of the Box, Part 2.

Last week, I asked you all to style me for a big weekend I have next week. Thank you so much.

Today, we’re talking about who can style you! I love social media because you get a treasure trove of feedback when you need it.

When I asked what fashion styling service you were using, boy did you respond. I had over 50 facebook comments, lots of messages and texts, and I learned a ton.

One thing I learned, there’s no way I could cover all the styling services out there. I thought I would write up the pros and cons for the highest used “out of the box” services based solely on my friends.

The top vote getters, in order, were: Stitch Fix, MM LaFleur, Nordstrom’s Trunk Club, Rent the Runway, and Allume. Others that folks talked about but not nearly as often were: Daily Look, Le Tote, Ann Taylor, Dia, and Wantable.

Before we dive in, let me say my information is based solely on my friends. I didn’t have the time to do a lot of independent research so cost and framework may have changed.

Let’s tackle Stitch Fix first. It’s the most recognizable. It’s been around the longest (I think). And lots of folks have opinions on it. The results were fairly split. Women that used it LOVED it! Women that used it HATED it. Every month, you pay a fee and get a box. If you keep stuff, the fee is applied to your box.

I will admit that I tried it years ago and was very disappointed. I ended up keeping a piece I didn’t love just to recoup the monthly fee. Because I didn’t keep it for very long, and it appears it takes a number of “Fixes” for them to get it right, I probably just short changed them.

Pros: These range from “great work clothes” to “great casual clothes.” It appears a lot of this is dependent on what you pin on your Pinterest board, which many say is key. Great jeans. Trying things I would never try. Being trendy and still work appropriate.

Cons: Hit or miss. Learning curve. A lot of folks said that they got repetitive things. You like one item and then send the same thing but in a different pattern or color. Others said they just never got their style and they didn’t care for the price point.

Hint: Find a stylist who gets you and request that stylist again. Keep a list.

Cost: You can either pay the monthly fee or enroll in Style pass for $49 to waive the fee and get unlimited access (applied to purchase). One friend set her “budget” settings on the cheapest possible and the box ran between $150-$250.

Next up, MM LaFleur. This is the one that has tempted me the most. Maybe because it constantly appears in my FB feed. After hearing feedback, I still want in. There’s no subscription so you can request a box whenever you want. Four to six pieces and four days to return.

Pros: Everyone that has used the service only had positive things to say. Great customer service. Gorgeous pieces. Staples. Don’t wrinkle. (Washable – GASP!) On and on with the love for the items received. Wonderful selection for work. Pieces last forever.

Cons: Universally the con is COST. This is expensive. Now some friends say it’s worth it to get such beautiful pieces. Also, if you’re looking for trendy, this isn’t the place. These are classic investment pieces.

Hint: You don’t have to get a Bento Box. You can get an individual item, and they’re worth it.

Cost: No subscription fee. Blouses range from $110 to dresses at $325.

Our next contender is Rent the Runway. I’ve always thought of this service as one to use for a fancy night out. (I considered it for next week.) But I’ve never plunged in. It’s users had great things to say. You can either pay a fee to get a single item or you can enroll in a monthly subscription. These are loaner clothes so you return them. Great for the girl that just wants to keep some high end, modern pieces fresh in her wardrobe.

Pros: They have styles for every wardrobe: casual, date night, work wear, gala, or vacation. Huge selection and constantly rotated. Great customer service. Option to order a back up size to make sure it fits. Perfect if you want an investment piece for an event like a gorgeous leather jacket or expensive jewelry but don’t want to make the investment.

Cons: Clothes itch because of the dry cleaning chemicals. It’s not cheap and you don’t own the item (this latter was a pro and a con).

Cost: Lower fee for the ability to rent one item or a monthly subscription fee to rotate many items monthly – between $120 and $150. Then there is the added cost of the item you are renting on top of it. I would love access to these designers but it is just out of my budget.

Trunk Club round out our list of services that actually send you a box. This is a Nordstrom’s service and it’s a little more like our last offering (up next) in that you can see the items before they ship. Stylists appear key for this service too.

Pros: Love and have used for years. Ask for reasonably priced clothes. Can change what you need on any given month – from work clothes to a formal event. Easy exchanges if the item doesn’t fit right. You have the option to reject an item before they send it because you get a preview of items in your trunk before they ship. You can set how often the trunk comes.

Cons: Too casual. Hard to find nicer work clothes. Weren’t good about sending what I requested. Not affordable enough.

Cost: Styling fee is waived with a Nordstrom card and applied to purchases if not. One friend who has her setting to “affordable” for the shipments ends up with about $200 to $300 for the trunk.

Finally, Allume which is a newer entry so it didn’t have quite as many reviews but I love it conceptually. Here, you are sent an online box of looks. If you order them, you get a discount. You pay a styling fee but don’t have to fuss with returning clothes if the monthly “look” doesn’t apply to you. Consults are by text – one friend said “our session was basically me throwing buckets of information at her streams-of-consciousness style while she chimed in with a few prompts here and there.” You can pick the look you need – date night, work, vacation – and they send the “look.”

Pros: The stylists “get” me. Variety. Items I wouldn’t find elsewhere. Having the whole outfit put together. Deciding what to get in advance. Finding a difficult look with specific instructions.

Cons: Sizing. The sizes from the different labels are all over the map. It’s hard to go to each seller’s website and understand what will fit.

Costs: A $20 monthly styling fee and prices are dependent on your budget and which items you select from your monthly “look.”

I’ll note, I didn’t even discuss plans which weren’t women’s clothing subscriptions. My good friend loves RocksBox which is a jewelry only subscription. She’s found it gave her flexibility to try accessories she wouldn’t typically use. And because of friend feedback, I just subscribed to KidBox. I’m having the darndest time finding cute clothes for little bit at this “tween” age and if you keep the whole box of six items the price is $98. That’s a deal for six items of clothes. If you (or she) doesn’t like them, you return them for free.

Let me know if you decide to try one or if I’ve wrongly captured the pros and cons of your favorite service.

I’ve been doing a lot of research the past week or so. There are a TON of subscription services to scratch your fashion itch. Ones I had never even heard of. But I’m learning.

As a result, we have a two part Fashion Friday series – Out of the Box!

Next week, Out of the Box, Part 2, will bring you the findings from my *very scientific* poll of friends who have used an array of subscription services. From Le Tote to Stitch Fix and from Allume to MM LaFluer, I have the skinny. I’ve found out what folks like, what things cost, where the pros and cons are.

There are so many options, I can’t detail them all, but I think I can hit the high points in case you’re curious about trying out a fashion subscription.

So what is Part One, you ask?

Well, it’s a point of personal privilege. I love to dress others but I’m also intensely curious about what I should wear to certain events. As I have a big weekend coming up (two weeks from today), I don’t have time to try out all these subscription services to solve my weekend wardrobe dilemma.

That’s where you, dear reader, come in!

Today, I’d like you to be MY subscription stylist.

The problem: my weekend getaway

Your styling fee: my undying gratitude

Your budget: cheap to free (seriously, I can’t buy high-end designers – I have third graders to get back to school)

So here are the details for your styling work. I’m flying with my hubby to Pittsburgh to accept an award. We’ll be in Pittsburgh on Friday and Saturday (all day). Then we’ll drive to Niagara Falls early Sunday and fly out Monday afternoon (it’s always been on my bucket list).

The key fashion looks are for the evening activities.

Friday night: Boots and Ballgowns Gala where I’ll accept an award. I have several evening gowns but would consider getting a new one if it was killer at a killer price.

Sunday night: casual dinner which has to go straight from a boat ride in the Falls with closed toe shoes out to eat.

I don’t need to buy new items. I can probably repurpose a lot of what I have – my closet is stocked with staples like blouses and jeans and accessories. But, I need a look. Some ideas to go by. I shop an assortment of retailers – most department stores, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Talbots, Boden, etc. Most things, once I know the cut to choose from, work. I’m 5’10 and a size 10-12.

So your mission, should you choose to accept it, style one of these events for me! You’re my “out of the box” subscription stylist today. You can post links and pictures in the comments on this post, on my Facebook page, or just email them to me at justgindi@hotmail.com.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with. (Plus, if you have any Pittsburgh or Niagara Falls tips, share them. We’ve never been.) And I’ll post pics from the events so you can see what I wore. Don’t forget, come back next week for Part 2 where it’s all about info FOR YOU on the best styling subscriptions out there.

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